Can Wet Matches Dry?

Have you ever felt soggy?
Soggy is a hard place to work from


But how do you create a spark when you feel soggy?
Wet matches don't light


What dries me out?
Friends do.
And my puppy.
And my husband (sometimes....)
Just sitting and staring into space
A walk


It is interesting to think about creating the conditions for sparks to happen. 

Ideas and thoughts - when they collide - create sparks. When that happens, the conditions to fan those sparks into flames have to be right.  Warm, Dry, Lots of Oxygen....

Like the weather, my life has patterns and seasons. Lately has felt a bit like the rainy season and I'm definitely feeling a bit soggy.

I do hope my wet matches can dry soon. 

What conditions create sparks and flames for you? What dries out your wet matches?


Kim LeClair can be found in Chicagoland with a hair dryer and wet pack of matches...and her puppy...

Home Is.... by Kim LeClair

I love Home?

Home is me + you?

Home can travel with me?
But sometimes home feels far away?

Does home have to built?
Or is home always there?

What do I mean when I say 'Feels Like Home'?
Why is 'Coming Home' so powerful?

Home fully inhabits the comfort of the moment

Feels Like Home really does
Coming Home is powerful

Home is always there
And a home can be built

Home can feel far away
But it also travels with me

Me + you is Home

Home is love.


Check Kim out at eastwillowstudios.com.

Let Me Count the Ways by Kim LeClair

Click to Open BIG LOVE +

Recipe for a Great Year by Kim LeClair

Ingredients
Heaping cups of Big Dreams
Spoonfuls of Great Friends
A bag of gratitude
A full serving of Good Health
Equal parts Determination and Inspiration
A dash of luck
A pinch of daring
Prayer to taste


Mix all of the ingredients fully, being sure to taste as you go. The measurements listed are guidelines only and you may find that you prefer things in different proportion - find your own personal favorite combinations. I highly recommend baking on the LOVE setting.

Would love to hear how you have adjusted the recipe for yourself....comment below!

Big Wishes for 2013

The team at Creative Dream Journals answered this question....

What is your
Dream
Wish
Blessing
for each other and for the world in 2013?

...here are our collective WISHES and DREAMS for 2013.....

My wish for every person in the world is that they get a big hug from someone who loves them. ~ Kim

My wish is that we connect, learn to listen, share ideas, and create synergetic solutions in our world. ~ Alli

I dream of deep connection with the beautiful women in this circle, and for peace and joy for all the beautiful women (and people:) in the world. ~ Lisa

I wish for all my circle sisters the joy of being inspired and living your best dream. For the world I wish to create together the world we wish to live in. To live with respect for one another. Happy 2013. It's ours to create with what we will. ~Valarie

My wish is that everyone is able to find love in their heart for themself and then is able to spread that love throughout the world so that we can all live in peace. I am also looking forward to getting to know all the ladies of the circle on a deeper level. It will be so much fun watching everyone grow, and dream, and accomplish so many wonderful things this year. ~ Ginny

For the world, I wish for the love that binds us together and nourishes us, and I especially wish for this love to brighten the lives of children, animals, the poor, the sick, and the vulnerable. For every person in the world, I wish happiness! For my dreamer buddies, I wish for exciting, unexpected, happy creative growth as you become ever more amazing. ~ Kelly

May the magic of your heart reveal itself to you. May you find the courage to follow where it leads. This day and all days. With love ~ Jamie

 

What's Your Metaphor? by Kim LeClair

 

I’ve been away from Creative Dream Journals for a long, long time. I keep starting to write something or have an idea for a post and it seems to dissolve away into thousands of micro-thought-threads and questions.

But I’m drawn to contribute something, so I’m trying something new - A Creative Dream Journals Pop-Quiz-Post…. 

Here goes: If you described your journey toward your Creative Dreams in metaphor (or simile, or allegory, or parable..you get the idea) how would you describe it? 

So would it be a rollicking high-seas adventure or a solo trek thru the desert? What were the stops like along the way? Clearly I’m into the journey idea, but it could be something completely different than a journey - could be more like a retreat or an inward something - don’t know. But something metaphorical - not the ‘actual’ facts but the impression of the facts - a way to describe in story.

So - if you were to sentence complete “Moving towards my Creative Dreams has been like ______ “

I’m working on my own answer too, so I’ll join in the conversation. Have Fun!

Kim LeClair has been a shadow creative for the past 40 years but is finally deciding to come out into the light. Kim is In the Process of Creating her Dream Job....Creative Director of east willow studios. 

 

The Yearly Reset Button (aka Hope) by Kim LeClair

 

I'm a little bit of sucker for this time of the year. Fresh starts, new plans, the old is washed away and the new is yet to come. I love looking back on the previous year and forward to the next.

I have a habit (well, I've got lots of habits, this one I happen to love..can't say the same for all of them....) of getting up pretty early, about 5am each day. I do morning pages and then I spend time in my favorite chair, laptop in hand, and explore. During this time of the year, the exploration turns inward. I start digging thru old files to see what I wrote last year, trying to figure out what I was thinking 'back then' - what clues might I find to finally unlock the door to my Big, New, Free, Happy, Unusual Life?

It makes some sense that I love the New Year. I sort of like NEW in general, give me variety and give it to me in high doses. But all that need need need for change change change often ends up looking like a stressful spaghetti life. I haven't quite mastered the art of slowing down and sticking to it and keep on going even when the going gets tough.

But....good news to report. I think I may be getting better at it. When I look back on last year I see that in fact there is some shifting, some deep shifting, related to some old habits.

I wonder when you look back, what do you see? What shifts have happened. This is such a good time to reflect back and project forward. So many neat ways to connect to your dreams and goals. When you look back, what do you see?

Last night in Viniyoga class we did a meditation on Luminous Light. Can you see even the darker parts of last year in a New Light? There is no doubt that we are Always Learning, even from the dark parts. To cast Luminous Light onto those dark parts, to Learn what they have to Teach...this is my work right now.

And then on to the New, the Fresh. Oh...I do love the promise of possibility. I want to always be able to feel that, the open fresh feeling for the future. There is a small part of me that sometimes fears losing that. To be lost entirely to what I think is best described as Hope - that would be hard, that would feel closed in. Nope, that's not for me - I like Hope.

I HOPE you have had a fun time exploring your past, excavating, looking - shining a Luminous Light and Learning. And I HOPE you have a Most Extraordinary New Year -- 2012! How Exciting!


Kim LeClair has been a shadow creative for the past 40 years but is finally deciding to come out into the light. Kim is In the Process of Creating her Dream Job....Creative Director of east willow studios. For now, you can visit her at her current adventure Year of Wellness 2012.

Rhythm and Putting It Out There by Kim LeClair

Here's the question of the day: How do I tell if my activity is Distraction from Fear or Creating What I Care About?

Going to have to back up a few steps and then come back to that question...hang in there with me....I think this is going to be good....

Here's the basic scoop - I have a day job, but it may be ending soon. I don't like my job that much anyway so I'm not so bummed about losing it (although losing $$ coming in the door…that’s a different story…see Kelly’s cool post about $$....). I've mentioned before that I have spent long years basically saying I wanted to do something "more creative" and then not really doing much of anything. Or, maybe I was doing things here and there but nothing felt connected and I actually felt like I was being Lazy. I know others would argue that I was not being lazy, but I felt like it - that's the point.

I don't feel lazy anymore at all. In fact, I feel kind of overwhelmed. I have what feels like about 10,000 ideas a day and then I also keep working hard to articulate stuff into reality. This rampant idea generation coupled with lots of other concrete activity is starting to feel like a frenzy - like a feeding frenzy...you've seen that - the wild, out of control thrashing that happens on nature shows. That is what it feels like a little bit IN MY HEAD !!

I'm realizing I need to slow down a bit... make a plan - have a strategy - set aside time - have priorities - make short term and long term goals - write things down - make lists - do this - do that - do - do something - aaaahhhh....! It's happening again, I can feel the thrashing! (ok, taking a breath...)

So here's the deal - what I think I really need to do is to tap into my own Internal Rhythm. What works for me? Here is what my rhythm is right now - lots of high energy, frenzied work for a few days then I allow myself time to crash. And when I say crash, I really mean "Do Nothing, sit and watch bad TV, stare into space, be a bowl of jello time" crashing. Right now, this High-to-Low Rhythm is actually kind of working. I keep getting things done and I'm not really feeling too run down or spent. So it is ok? Hold that question....

Here is this other little nugget that I've picked up along the way - Putting it Out There is Hard. I knew, or at least I had read, that Fear and Resistance were real. But just recently I'm starting to actually Experience how Real Fear Is. To put something out in the world that is you, a real representation of you, something you really care about, something you really want others to like, that is really really a big deal. I felt it in a palpable way the other day, I was thinking about doing something and realizing that others would read it and people I know would read it and questioning if I would want them to and what if they hated it and I would be embarrassed and ...and...and...I sort of went into a freak out mind loop...fear baby, raw fear....

So now let's come back to the question - is my activity actually just Distraction? Is my High-to-Low Rhythm supporting me in moving past my fears and doing stuff I care about? I think this is a great question...a really great question.

Am I hiding out from fear? Am I distracting myself? In this moment I have to answer no, but I think I want to keep the question in mind and keep asking myself how I would honestly answer in any given moment. I'm pretty sure the answer will change. The high-to-low rhythm - I have a feeling that is just sort of who I am. I run on inspiration and enthusiasm and sometimes the tank goes empty and I have to fill it up again. I think I'm ok with that.

After a feeding frenzy, the water calms and energy is spent and the crazed are satiated. Maybe the occasional frenzy isn't so bad, as long as it ends and there is time to rest and you get to reflect on the question “is what I ate what I wanted?”

Excuse the sort of strange metaphor there. I’m not sure if any of this really make sense, this strange circular thing, but it made some sense to me – helped me to clarify a bit what is going on. I really do think Internal Rhythm, figuring out how you work, is So Important. Otherwise you might keep thinking you are doing something wrong. And knowing your rhythm helps you watch out for fear that is starting to turn working into distraction. So that’s the point – watch your Internal Rhythm and make sure it is supporting you in work that you Really Care About.

Kim LeClair has been a shadow creative for the past 40 years but is finally deciding to come out into the light. Kim is In the Process of Creating her Dream Job....Creative Director of east willow studios. For now, you can visit her at one of her other adventures -- MoveJoyUs or fitness for mere mortals.

Celebrating Slow by Kim LeClair

The Holidays. Always a strange time, lots of activity, excitement, things to do, people to see, emotions not felt since last year or maybe never at all. A Full time.

This year I’m aware of wanting to Celebrate Slow. To enjoy the Snuggle. To enjoy the Warm, the Hearty, the Smiles, the dim lights, the Being Alone or the Being With.

I’ve had an Active year, lots of stuff and creating and Aliveness. That is a Fast Energy for me and I thrive on it. But this Season I’m wanting to Revel in Lounging, fuzzy slippers, old movies, couch time…..

Can we allow ourselves to experience Slow as Celebration? As Celebration of our bodies, our minds, our spirits?

I looked up the root of the word Celebrate : “assemble to honor” is one option. What will you Assemble to Honor this season? For me it is a warm set of PJs and some cookies and milk and some cozy couch time.

My wish for everyone in the whole wide world (and imagine a 4-year old girl saying this with her arms spread wide open and the pure heart only small years can bring....that is what I’m imagining….) – so my wish for the Whole-Wide-World is to Celebrate Slow. Hug yourself. Get cozy. Cuddle with yourself. Celebrate. Slow.

Kim LeClair has been a shadow creative for the past 40 years but is finally deciding to come out into the light. Kim is In the Process of Creating her Dream Job....Creative Director of east willow studios. For now, you can visit her at one of her other adventures -- MoveJoyUs or fitness for mere mortals.

See Yourself in 2012 by Kim LeClair

End of the 2011. Wow, amazing amazing amazing. So what’s next?

I’m a big fan of the look back/look ahead. There are lots of good things out there about planning – here is one from Jamie and one from Glenda – but here is something I'm doing myself that I find to be a really easy, fun and interesting exercise. This is sort of a mash up of an exercise I've done with Jamie and then the classic "ultimate day" exercise. Just give it a shot, it's fascinating what comes up....

So here goes – instead of making a list or planning how something is going to happen or what you want to do – take a bit of time to play and do this:

Imagine yourself on March 21, 2012. Where do you wake up? Who are you with? What do you wear? Where do you go? How are you feeling? What happens in your day? What activities do you do? When do you go to sleep? You could even draw a picture of yourself and label it with the artifacts of the day (I've done this, it's fun!)

So just imagine March 21, 2012. It doesn’t matter if it’s pure fantasy or not, just write it down. And write as many or as few details as you want, but really Let Yourself Go There. March 21, 2012.

Now, Imagine yourself on July 6, 2012. Same thing. What’s the day like? As many or as few details as you can muster. Just Imagine it.

Imagine yourself on November 23, 2012. Same thing. Take as much or as little time as you want, no rules here....just enjoy the spirit of imagining yourself on specific days - what do you look like? What do those days look like? How do they feel?

So now you have 3 days in 2012. What did you notice? What details stand out? An even more interesting question may be what was the same as it is now? Can you celebrate that as something that is just as you want it to be? For me this was clear when I woke up in my own little house on all of those days in 2012 - I can celebrate that being something that is just perfect TODAY! So that is something that I can just let be, I don't need to worry or wonder about it at all - it is just as it should be. How cool is that?

So just hold these thoughts now. You've got them written down, maybe put your words and sketches in a drawer and pull it out on March 21 and see what’s the same or different? What do you notice? If these 3 days feel weird and arbitrary then you can pick your own 3 days, clearly there are no rules to something I just made up….

Just have fun with Seeing Yourself. Notice what you notice. I’m pretty sure you are awesome – now and then!

Kim LeClair has been a shadow creative for the past 40 years but is finally deciding to come out into the light. Kim is In the Process of Creating her Dream Job....Creative Director of east willow studios. For now, you can visit her at one of her other adventures -- MoveJoyUs or fitness for mere mortals.

the in between time by Kimberly LeClair

I used to always think things like “I should do _____, it would be so fun” (fill in the blank with some exciting creative project) and then never do it.

Something has changed.

Now, when I have an idea I’m doing it. I’m actively engaged in several projects, have completed some and am happy with how they worked out. I have energy to keep going.

And ... I have no idea how to feel or think about myself at all.

It’s actually very very strange....

I know that as humans when we go thru transitions and periods of change our inner identity shifts and we have corresponding emotions. The image of the trapeze artist as she lets go of one bar and hasn’t quite caught the next one - the moment of raw terror when the man loses his job and doesn’t have a new one yet - the feelings we all get when we suffer a loss and we keep expecting to see our loved one in the old familiar places but they aren’t there. I’ve heard about these transitory times before, I’ve even had some of my own experiences.

But I still feel really weird. There’s a void there, I feel it on the inside - I don’t quite know how to talk about what I’m doing - the brain structures, the language, they aren’t quite there yet. And something else --- I’m aware of some really old inner demons knocking on the door of my psyche. Lots of inner chatter about how none of this is really possible, how I’m really not a very good person at all, how I will never be able to move forward and do bigger things, how at any moment the entire world will start laughing in unison.

So this in between time, it’s tough....really tough... My hope is that as I keep moving forward, keep doing what I have energy to do that I will eventually feel Stronger in this New Life. I will eventually have more Integrity on the Inside, talking about things will get easier again, I will have a better sense of who I am again.

Until then, I’m positive that I need support structures on the outside to keep reminding me that I’m on the right path, that I’m actually still here and a complete person and all will be well. I need to be honest with others about what is going on for me, as best I can, to keep any gnarly knots of shame from growing. I need my True Friends. People who can simply say “of course this is what you should be doing!” -- That statement is like a lifeboat right now.

As I write this the word Hope is standing out for me - in this in between time Hope is there, hope that there is a time when this will all feel more solid, when I will feel more Solid again.

Hope and maybe Faith and Trust too....and True Friends --- these are my companions, my lifelines, during this in between time.

Kim LeClair has been a shadow creative for the past 40 years but is finally deciding to come out into the light. Kim is In the Process of Creating her Dream Job....Creative Director of east willow studios. For now, you can visit her at one of her other adventures -- MoveJoyUs or fitness for mere mortals.

The Path by Kim LeClair

has never been clear to me
seems to wind into circles and knots
takes me into so many tunnels and dark places

sometimes lights up
sometimes seems easy
sometimes feels downhill

the path never makes sense going forward
but always seems perfect looking back

the path, wide and open and full and joyous
and filled with friends

the path, dark and narrow and dank and dry
and filled with shadows

the path, from high above, an amazing pattern of perfection
the path

always always moving toward away through

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Kim LeClair has been a shadow creative for the past 40 years but is finally deciding to come out into the light. Kim is In the Process of Creating her Dream Job....Creative Director of east willow studios. For now, you can visit her at one of her other adventures -- MoveJoyUs or fitness for mere mortals.

An Artist's Prayer by Kim LeClair

An Artist's Prayer

The Earth and the wild things upon it
Stand to serve me and my most inner wishes
Forces greater than myself, God and Wisdom and Light -
I ask that you Infuse me and Guide me.
Remove my burdens, remove my walls and boundaries
Allow me to stand before you, naked and beautiful
Pour yourself into me and open me to accept your light.

I want to do good in the World
Help me to see my path.
I want to honor my gifts
Open my eyes to my power.
I want to see the unknown of myself
Guide me to my own darkness and illuminate my shadows.
Soothe and release my wounds and scars
Heal my body and soul and join them.

I want to create and express and fulfill and experience
To honor myself, to honor the wildness of the world
For the sacred love and life that surrounds me
God and Wisdom and Light – Infuse me and Guide me.

Kim LeClair is Creative Director of the newly founded east willow studios. Dedicated to personal passionate design, Kim and the folks at east willow studios want to bring you solutions that fit, filled with honest and true content, all sprinkled with heavy doses of JOY and FUN and A-W-E-some!

Meet the Dreamers: Kim LeClair

 

Kim LeClair

I have been a shadow creative for the past 40 years but I’m finally deciding to come out into the light. I’m sort of obsessed with the question of the difference between Art and Design and lately I’ve been dabbling and exploring and jumping and winging it (mostly winging it!) around that question. I guess now I’m going to do some of that 'in public'...that idea is mostly exhilarating with a heavy sprinkling of raw terror. My hope is that what I share here is honest and true and adds some Joy to the World....I’m a big fan of Joy!

http://eastwillowstudios.com/
http://fitnessformeremortals.com/